How the Wright Brothers Grounded AviationPatent battles that let Europe take the lead

From the show

Hidden Sides of History

The inventors of the airplane nearly destroyed the American industry they created. Instead of improving their designs, Orville and Wilbur Wright focused on aggressive litigation to protect their patents. This strategy caused US aviation to stagnate while European designers surged ahead technologically. The government eventually intervened to force a patent pool, breaking the legal gridlock that held back innovation during World War I.